Simplifying Square Roots

Learn how to simplify square roots by finding and extracting perfect square factors.

Intermediate25 minLesson
Printable worksheet

Definition

To simplify a square root means to rewrite it in its simplest form by extracting perfect square factors.
A square root is in simplest form when:
  • The number under the radical has no perfect square factors other than 1
  • There are no fractions under the radical
  • There are no radicals in the denominator
Key Property:
a×b=a×b\sqrt{a \times b} = \sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b}
We use this to separate perfect squares:
72=36×2=36×2=62\sqrt{72} = \sqrt{36 \times 2} = \sqrt{36} \times \sqrt{2} = 6\sqrt{2}

Try it now

What is 36\sqrt{36}?

Worked Examples

Simplify 72\sqrt{72}
1

List perfect squares less than 72

1,4,9,16,25,36,49,641, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64 → Perfect squares to check
2

Find which divide 72 evenly

72÷4=1872 \div 4 = 18 \checkmark, 72÷9=872 \div 9 = 8 \checkmark, 72÷36=272 \div 36 = 2 \checkmark → 4, 9, and 36 are factors
3

Choose the largest: 36

72=36×2\sqrt{72} = \sqrt{36 \times 2} → Factor out 36
4

Apply the product rule

36×2=36×2\sqrt{36 \times 2} = \sqrt{36} \times \sqrt{2} → Separate the roots
5

Simplify the perfect square

36=6\sqrt{36} = 6 → 626\sqrt{2}

Common Mistakes

Stopping too early: writing 72=218\sqrt{72} = 2\sqrt{18} instead of 626\sqrt{2}

Why it's wrong: 18 still has a perfect square factor (9). Always check if the remaining radicand can be simplified further.

Correct: Continue simplifying: 218=29×2=2×32=622\sqrt{18} = 2\sqrt{9 \times 2} = 2 \times 3\sqrt{2} = 6\sqrt{2}

Writing 50=252\sqrt{50} = 25\sqrt{2} instead of 525\sqrt{2}

Why it's wrong: We take the SQUARE ROOT of 25, not 25 itself. 25=5\sqrt{25} = 5, not 25.

Correct: 50=25×2=25×2=52\sqrt{50} = \sqrt{25 \times 2} = \sqrt{25} \times \sqrt{2} = 5\sqrt{2}

Thinking a+b=a+b\sqrt{a + b} = \sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b}

Why it's wrong: Square roots do NOT distribute over addition! Only over multiplication.

Correct: 9+16=25=5\sqrt{9 + 16} = \sqrt{25} = 5, but 9+16=3+4=7\sqrt{9} + \sqrt{16} = 3 + 4 = 7. These are not equal!

Interactive Visual

Simplifying Radicals

72\sqrt{72}
Simplify the root: look for the largest factor under the root that you can take the root of.

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Practice Problems

16 problems
Problem 1 of 16
Easy
What is 36\sqrt{36}?

Why It Matters

Simplifying square roots is essential in mathematics because:
  • Exact answers: 626\sqrt{2} is exact, while 8.485...8.485... is an approximation
  • Easier calculations: Simplified forms make further operations much simpler
  • Recognizing patterns: Seeing 50=52\sqrt{50} = 5\sqrt{2} helps compare values
  • Real applications: Used in geometry (diagonal of a square), physics (velocity formulas), and engineering
Simplified radicals are the standard way to express irrational numbers in mathematics!

Real World Applications

Diagonal of a Square

Finding the diagonal of a square uses the Pythagorean theorem and requires simplifying square roots.

Example:

A square has side length 6 cm. Its diagonal is 62+62=72=62\sqrt{6^2 + 6^2} = \sqrt{72} = 6\sqrt{2} cm.

1Try It Yourself

A square garden has sides of 10 meters.

What is the exact length of the diagonal path across it?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Use the Pythagorean theorem: 102+102\sqrt{10^2 + 10^2}

Screen Sizes

TV and monitor sizes are measured diagonally, which involves square roots.

Example:

A monitor is 40 cm wide and 30 cm tall. The diagonal is 402+302=2500=50\sqrt{40^2 + 30^2} = \sqrt{2500} = 50 cm.

2Try It Yourself

A tablet screen is 24 cm wide and 18 cm tall.

What is the diagonal measurement?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Calculate 242+182\sqrt{24^2 + 18^2}

Key Takeaways

  • 1To simplify n\sqrt{n}, find the largest perfect square factor of nn
  • 2Use the product rule: a×b=a×b\sqrt{a \times b} = \sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b}
  • 3Prime factorization helps find perfect square factors (pairs of primes)
  • 4A square root is simplified when no perfect square factors remain under the radical
  • 5Always check if your answer can be simplified further

Frequently Asked Questions

Check the number under the radical. If its only perfect square factor is 1 (no repeated prime factors), it is fully simplified. For example, 30\sqrt{30} is simplified because 30=2×3×530 = 2 \times 3 \times 5 has no repeated primes.
Check the number under the radical. If its only perfect square factor is 1 (no repeated prime factors), it is fully simplified. For example, 30\sqrt{30} is simplified because 30=2×3×530 = 2 \times 3 \times 5 has no repeated primes.
Using the largest perfect square factor gets you to the answer in one step. You can use smaller factors, but you will need to simplify multiple times. Both methods give the same final answer.
No. If the number under the radical has no perfect square factors other than 1 (like 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, etc.), the square root is already in simplest form.

Glossary

Radicand
The number under the radical sign. In 72\sqrt{72}, the radicand is 72.
Perfect square
A number that is the square of an integer: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, ...
Simplest form
A square root where the radicand has no perfect square factors other than 1.
Product rule for radicals
a×b=a×b\sqrt{a \times b} = \sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b} for non-negative aa and bb.

Formula Card

Product Rule

a×b=a×b\sqrt{a \times b} = \sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b}

Separate a square root into the product of two square roots

Simplification Pattern

n2×m=nm\sqrt{n^2 \times m} = n\sqrt{m}

Extract the perfect square factor from under the radical

Perfect Squares

1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64,81,100,121,1441, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144

Memorize these perfect squares up to 144

Today's challengeOne problem, three tries

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